Page:Four funny tales.pdf/5



Before him Doon pours all his floods: The doubling ſtorm roars thro' the woods; The lightnings flaſh from pole to pole; Near and more near the thunders roll: When, glinomering thro' the grouping trees, Kirk Alloway feem'd in a bleeze; Thro' ilka bore the beams were glancing; And loud reſounded mirth and dancing.———

Inſpiring bold John Barleycorn! What dangers thou canſt make us ſcorn! Wi' tipenny, we fear nae evil; Wi' uſquebah we'll face the devil!——— The ſwats fae team'd in Tammie's noddle, Fair play, he car'd na deils a boddle. But Maggie flood right fair aſtoniſh'd, Till, by the heel and hand admoniſh'd, She ventur'd forward on the light: And, vow! Tom ſaw an unco fight! Warlocks and witches in a dance; Nae cotillon brent new frae France, But hornpipes, jigs, Arathſpeys, and reels, Put life and mettle in their heels. A winnock-bunker in the eaſt, There fat auld Nick, in ſhape o' beaſt; A towzie tyke, black, grim, and large, To gie them muſic was his charge; He ſkrew'd the pipes, and gart them ſkirl, Till roof and rafters a' did dirl——— Coffins food round, like open preſſes, That ſhaw'd the dead in their laſt dreſſes; And by ſome deviliſh cantrip flight, Each in its cauld hand held a light.——— By which, heroic Tam was able To note upon the haly table, A murderer's banes in gibbet airns; Twa ſpan-lang, wee, unchriſten'd bairns; A thief, new cutted frae a rape, Wi' his laſt gaſp his gab did gape; Five tomahawks, wi' blude red-ruſted; Five ſcymiters, wi' murder cruſted;